Clamp.



D. B. SWICKARD.

CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAN IB. SWICKARD, 0F GALVA, ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAN B. SwIoxARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galva, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to adjustable clamps, especially clamps for use in closing boxes filled with merchandise for transportation.

The object of my invention is to provide a clamp which shall be light, easily and readily removed from one box to another, simple in construction, durable and eficient in use and cheap of manufacture.

To these ends my invention consists of the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification I have shown an embodiment of my invention and in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of my device applied to a box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device in position to be applied to a cover, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a modification of the presser bar.

I have observed that if a box is only filled to an extent that will not interfere with the closing of the cover on the box by manual eorts of the operator that the contents will pack in course of transportation and shift in the box and, not unfrequently, be injured or even made unfit for use.

My device enables the operator to overll the box so that when the cover is nailed or otherwise secured thereto, the damaging of the merchandise is practically avoided or at least materially lessened.

In order to accomplish the objects of my invention the amount of goods is such that it would be practically impossible for the operator to force the cover down in position where he could secure it to the box. Again, it is important to know that the entire width or length of the cover can be forced down upon the box before securing it in order to avoid the necessity of detaching it in order not to damage the merchandise in readjusting the same to permit the cover to be secured. This I overcome by providing a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iled April 6, 1911.

CLAMP.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 619,289.

long presser bar or roll which extends well over one edge of the cover and thereby enables the operator to press one end and a portion of each side of the cover into position to be conveniently nailed.

In the accompanying drawing: l is a bar having a series of perforations, 2, and a foot, 3, at its lower end.

4 is a sleeve which slides upon the bar l and has a pivot arm 5, for the bell-crank lever 6, and downwardly projecting tongues 7 The tongues are perforated to receive a pin which passes therethrough and through one of the perforations in said bar in order to adjust and hold the sleeve at any desired elevation. I have provided a tongue, preferably one on each side of the bar, in order to remove the projecting pin, 8, from the path of the hammer, which would otherwise interfere with the work of the operator and, asl occasionally happens, cause damage by being accidentally struck. A presser bar 9 is attached to the short arm of said lever and extends laterally therefrom to such an extent that it has a broad bearing upon the cover and serves to press not only the end of the cover, near to which it is applied, but also to a considerable extent, the sides thereof, down upon the box on which the cover is to be secured by nails or other means.

If the merchandise has not been properly distributed in the box, that is to say, if there is such a quantity at any one point under the cover as would prevent the presser bar from forcing the cover down upon the box, the presser bar is at once released, before any nails have been driven, and the necessary adjustment of the contents of the box is made. Again, the application of the presser bar may show that a greater quanf tity of goods may be advantageously placed in the box.

In lieu of the presser bar shown in Figs. l and 2, I may use a roller 11 mounted in bearings at the ends of a yoke 12.

I reserve the right to make such changes in the form and proportion of the parts as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination, with a bar having an extending foot at one end, of a sleeve mounted on said bar and having an arm extending in the same direction as said foot, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said arm near its outer end, and a long presser-bar secured near its center to said lever and extending at either side thereof transversely to said foot and arm.

2. The combination, With a bar having an extending` foot at one end, of an adjustable sleeve mounted on said bar and having an arm extending in the saine direction as said foot, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said arm near its outer end, a long presser bar secured near its center to said lever and extending` at either side thereof transversely to saidV foot and arm, a tongue on said sleeve ex- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

tending along the bar toward the foot beyond the arc of movement of the presserbar in that direction, and means to secure said tongue to the bar.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

DAN B. SWICKARD.

V/Vitnesses ALBERT E. BERGLAND, LEMAN MALLERY.

Washington, D. C. 

